Description & Usage;
Bouteloua Curtipendula is also commonly known as side-oats grama, and is one of the Poaceae (Grass Family). It is a popular ornamental grass used as wildflower meadows, prairie restorations, and garden accents. In the wildlife, it is attractive to song birds and butterflies. It also provides food to birds and nesting material. Side-oats are usually 18-24 inches tall and spread also 18-24 inches wide. These are tolerant to dry sun, dry soil, shallow, rocky soil, and air pollution; especially, drought tolerance is high. Its habitats are prairies, open brush, rocky slopes etc. Thus distribution is widely spread from Canada to Argentina (Below). This plant is grass-like and perennial. The root is fibrous and has alternated leaf arrangement. The flower blooms in June to November and the colors are red, orange or yellow. Leaves are usually blue and green however purple to red in the fall. In nature, this plant increases rapidly when its site is damaged by drought or grazing.
Distribution;
USA (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY), CAN (AB, BC, MB, ON, SK)
Image References;
http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=2937
http://www.agreengarden.com/plants/bouteloua-curtipendula.asp
http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/grasses-sedges-rushes/bouteloua-curtipendula-side-oats-grama/
References:
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/525/index.htm
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/g730/bouteloua-curtipendula.aspx
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BOCU
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BOCU